Steer Clear of Smokers

“Stay away from smokers.” That’s what U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona is telling us in the wake of a newly published study examining the effects of cigarette and cigar smoke. “The science is clear. Secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance, but a serious health hazard,” says Carmona.

According to the 670-page report, there is no safe level of second-hand smoke. Even smoke that randomly drifts past non-smokers has the potential to be very harmful. Everyday, over 126 million nonsmoking Americans are exposed to secondhand smoke. Of these non-smoking people, more than 35,000 will die each year as a result of “involuntary” smoking.

What does this mean to family members of smokers? Inside the home, the government can’t ban the smoking of tobacco, or protect non-smoking people from its deadly effects. New estimates show that just over 1 in 5 children breaths their parents smoke each day. This is especially dangerous to younger children with developing bodies. Carmona’s report goes on to say that secondhand smoke puts children at risk for sudden infant death syndrome, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma attacks, poor lung growth and ear infections. Parents who can’t kick the habit are encouraged to go outside to smoke, and to never smoke in the house or in the car. Opening a window will not protect anyone.

Outside the home, the Surgeon General says separate smoking sections in public places just won’t cut the mustard, regardless of the type of ventilation being used. Toxic fumes are still present in the air, and that’s enough to increase a non-smokers risk of developing lung cancer or heart disease by up to 30 percent.

The facts, as spelled out in the Surgeon Generals report, are crystal clear. Smoking is not safe for the smoker, or anyone in his or her path. So make smart choices for your life. If you’re a smoker, kick the habit. If you can’t quit, then smoke outside, far away from anyone else. If you’re a non-smoker, don’t let anyone smoke near you or your family.

[Source: cnn.com, article published 6/27/06]

Study Finds Drinking Tea May Help Protect Against Liver Cancer, Especially in Women

By Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS, July 10, 2006, abstracted from “Tea drinking and the risk of biliary tract cancers and biliary stones: A population-based case-control study in Shanghai, China” in the June 15, 2006 issue of the International Journal of Cancer

The biliary tract is a network of vessels that connects the liver, gallbladder and pancreas, and is responsible for transporting bile, a fluid made in the liver, to the intestines to help digest food.1 Aproximately 7,500 new cases of biliary tract cancer (which include gallbladder and bile duct cancer) are diagnosed per year.2 Patients are advised to seek medical attention if they start to have jaundice (yellowing of the skin), clay-colored stools, and cola-colored urine.3

Because current medical treatments that include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation can produce at best a five-year survival rate,4 prevention of biliary cancer is a priority. Now a new study5 has found that drinking tea may help protect against biliary cancer, especially in women.

In the study, researchers studied 627 residents of urban Shanghai between 35 and 74 years of age who were newly diagnosed with biliary tract cancer between June 1997 and May 2001. They also selected over 1,000 patients with biliary stones without a history of cancer and 959 subjects with no history of any type of cancer (or biliary stones) as controls. Each patient was interviewed about their lifestyle behaviors and diet, especially tea drinking, including the age they started drinking tea, how many years they have been drinking tea, and their monthly intake (weight of tea leaves in grams).

The researchers found that among women, those who drank tea who consumed at least one cup of tea per day for more than six months had a 44% reduced risk of gallbladder cancer, a 35% reduced risk of bile duct cancer, and a 27% reduced risk of biliary stones. In addition, their age of first use, duration, monthly intake and lifetime consumption were "significantly and inversely associated" with gallbladder cancer risk.

92% of tea drinkers reported green tea as their tea of choice. This statistical significance, however, was not found in men despite having longer durations and higher consumptions of tea than women.

For the researchers, this study revealed "a protective effect of tea consumption on biliary tract cancer and biliary stones among women." They attributed this protective effect to tea polyphenols, in particular EGCG, known to have a number of health-promoting properties.6

Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Danville, CA. You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at mailto:ChiroDocPSUalum@msn.com or visiting his website www.CompleteChiropracticHealthcare.com

Reference:

1 “Bile Duct” posted on wikipedia.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bile_duct

2 de Groen PC. Biliary Tract Cancers. NEJM 1999;341:1368-1378

3 Pitt HA, Dooley WC, Yeo CJ, Cameron JL. Malignancies of the biliary tree. Curr Probl Surg 1995;32:1-90

4 Henson DE, Albores-Saavedra J, Corle D. Carcinoma of the gallbladder: histologic types, stage of disease, grade, and survival rates. Cancer 1992;70:1493-1497

5 Zhang XH. Tea drinking and the risk of biliary tract cancers and biliary stones: A population-based case-control study in Shanghai, China. Int Jou Cancer 2006; 118(12): 3089-3094

6 Mukhtar H, Ahmad N. Tea polyphenols: prevention of cancer and optimizing health. Am J Clin Nutr 2000; 71: 1698S-1702S

Recommended Amounts of Tylenol Might Lead to Liver Damage

An Associated Press story published on July 5, 2006 reports on a new study that raises concern over even the recommended maximum usage of the common pain killer. The original study published in the July 5, 2006 Journal of the American Medical Association, (JAMA), looked at 145 healthy adults in 2 US inpatient clinical pharmacology units.

The subjects were divided into three groups. One group took 4 grams of Tylenol, equivalent to eight extra-strength Tylenol tablets, each day for two weeks. A second group took Tylenol combined with an opioid painkiller. A third group consisting of 39 individuals were given dummy pills (placebo) that they assumed were Tylenol.

The results showed that there was no evidence of any liver damage in the group that took the dummy pills. However in the group that took the actual Tylenol the results were dramatically different. When testing those in the Tylenol group, nearly 40 percent showed abnormal test results that would signal liver damage. The researchers found that thirty-nine percent of the patients taking acetaminophen alone or in combination with another drug saw their liver enzymes increase to more than three times the upper limit of normal.

Study co-author, Dr. Neil Kaplowitz of the University of Southern California, responded, "I would urge the public not to exceed four grams a day. This is a drug that has a rather narrow safety window." Another co-author, Dr. Paul Watkins of the University of North Carolina, said, "Our jaws dropped when we got the data. It doesn`t have anything to do with the opiate. It`s good ol`, garden-variety acetaminophen."

After seeing the research, Dr. William Lee of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, who was not involved in the research commented, "This study shows that even taking the amount on the package can be a problem for some people."

tylenol acetaminophen liver+damage

Cerebral Palsy Helped With Chiropractic Care, Four Case Studies

Four documented case studies were published in the June 21, 2006 issue of the scientific periodical, the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research.� In each of these case studies the children were previously diagnosed with cerebral palsy secondary to birth trauma. Additionally each of these children were found to have the presence of vertebral subluxations as detected by objective testing.�

Chiropractic care was given to each of the children with the objective of correcting or reducing the detected vertebral subluxations. The mothers and or care providers of each of these children monitored changes in activities of daily living and observed their quality of life.� They noted that after one month of chiropractic care, all four children showed improvement in activities of daily living including mobility, feeding, and postural control.

The first case study was of an 8 year old female presenting with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy secondary to birth trauma who was also prone to seizures.� She also suffered from tremors of her arms and legs, frequent urination and had visual problems as well as poor posture. Her previous medical treatment consisted of physical therapy procedures including massage and acupuncture.�

Over a 9 week period this child received a total of 22 chiropractic adjustments. Following chiropractic care, the parents reported that she could sit better and was able to walk upright without anyone`s help. She also gained the ability to walk up stairs on her own. She was able to use her left arm and hand better, especially
when feeding herself.� She was able to walk steadier and more confident, and was less "limp."� Her parents also noted that her overall coordination improved and they reported an increase in energy and that her emotional state improved. They also noted that she was less fatigued and needed less sleep, and the tremors lessened in severity.

Similarly each of the children also showed improvements. One 7 year old boy who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy also suffered from seizures. His parents reported that as an infant he did not move much and that he seemed to lack any emotion. He also did not start to crawl until he was 11 months old and did not walk until he was almost 5 years old.� Additionally, this unfortunate child suffered from frequent colds, numbness and pain in the arms and legs, seizures, nasal bleeding, throat pain, hoarseness of the voice, pain in the gums and teeth, rhinitis, extremity tremors, pain in the feet, and anemia. He had trouble sleeping, difficulty communicating, concentrating and working in school.

After the initiation of chiropractic care, his parents reported that he became more stable while standing and walking, had greater mobility and better balance of the upper part of the body.� Additionally, he was able to walk longer distances before tiring. His abilities in school improved and his sleeping problems resolved. They reported that his appetite, communication and emotional state improved.

The other two children in this study also showed improvements that included improved changes in their coordination, gait improvements, better sleeping and appetite.� Additionally, changes in posture and mental attitude were also noted.

The authors note that all of these improvements correlated with objective findings of reductions of subluxations during chiropractic care. In their conclusions they state, "These reports are consistent with widespread anecdotal reports of similar types of improvements and are consistent with other case reports in the literature. Given the significance of such types of improvements in the lives of these children the authors call for more extensive investigation of the effects of subluxation analysis and correction in children suffering from cerebral palsy."

chiropractic
cerebral+palsy

Soy isoflavone supplements decrease bone loss in postmenopausal women

Soy isoflavone supplements reduce bone loss in postmenopausal women and may provide a more natural and safe alternative to long-term hormone replacement therapy.

Bone loss, and resulting osteoporosis, is a major health problem among postmenopausal women. But long-term hormone replacement therapy can have risky side effects in many women. In a search for safer alternatives, new research confirms that soy isoflavones can play an important role in reducing bone loss and decreasing the risk of osteoporosis. Chinese investigators assigned postmenopausal women to receive soy isoflavones at doses of either 84 mg, 126 mg, or a placebo for 6 months. After six months, bone mineral density of the hip and spine were higher in the groups of women taking the soy isoflavones compared to those not taking the supplement. Women taking the higher dosage experienced the greatest increase in density. In addition to other factors related to bone health, soy isoflavones may be a safe and natural alternative for women to help maintain bone health after menopause.

Eur J Nutr. 2006 Jun 8

West Nile Virus Returns

As the middle of summer approaches, 16 states are already buzzing with reports of mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus, with five people currently infected with the most extreme form of the illness.

Since West Nile first appeared in the U.S. seven years ago, it has affected 1.2 to 1.3 million people nationwide—this estimate according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many people are bitten by mosquitoes carrying the virus, but only 1 in 5 develops symptoms. The good news is that of the small percent that gets sick, a very small number will actually contract full-blown West Nile, which has proven to be deadly.

So how can you fight the bite of West Nile? Understanding and apply the information below can protect you from annoying mosquitoes.

-- Use a repellent. There are several “natural” mosquito repellents that are safe to apply to your body. Be sure to cover exposed skin before venturing outdoors.

-- When weather permits, wear long sleeves, pants and socks.

-- Peak mosquito hours are dusk to dawn. Take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing during these hours.

-- Remove standing water on your property—that’s where mosquitoes lay their eggs.

--Take a proactive stand against sickness by building up your body’s health through chiropractic adjustments, a healthy diet and regular exercise. People who receive regular chiropractic care can be healthier and fair better when exposed to sickness, compared to people who don’t use chiropractic.

[Source: Center for Diseases Control, www.cdc.gov]

Selenium Deficiency Found to Accelerate Prostate Cancer

By Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS,

Prevention is a priority when it comes to prostate cancer. As the number one cancer killer of American men, prostate cancer has a 34% survival rate if it has spread to other parts of the body.1 But because of “potential problems” with current screening tests,2 attention needs to be paid to dealing with prostate cancer once it has been diagnosed.

The focus on nutrition’s role in prostate cancer has thus far focused primarily on prevention, with spinach,3 broccoli,4 red wine,5 green tea,6 soy,7 vitamin E,8 lycopene9 and avoidance of processed foods10 all demonstrating effectiveness. Now a new study11 has found that one mineral may halt the progression of prostate cancer.

As a mineral that has demonstrated protective effects against colon cancer,12 selenium is a trace mineral that is essential to good health. The government has suggested a daily intake of 70 mcg for most healthy people, but a dose of 200+ mcg per day is considered safe.(13,14) Selenium is incorporated into proteins to make selenoproteins that are important antioxidant enzymes which help prevent cellular damage from free radicals.15 It is these selenoproteins that now provide hope in halting the progression of prostate cancer.

In the study, researchers mated two mice, one that had reduced selenoproteins and another that develops prostate growth representing early events in cancer and closely resemble that of humans.16 They not only found that the selenoprotein-deficient mice exhibited “accelerated development” of lesions associated with prostate cancer progression, they found “clear evidence” that the decrease in selenoproteins in the prostate gland resulted in acceleration of prostate cancer in the mice and further implicated selenoproteins in cancer risk and development.

For the researchers, this study “rais[es] the possibility that selenium prevents cancer by modulating the levels of these selenoproteins.”

Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Danville, CA. You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at mailto:ChiroDocPSUalum@msn.com or visiting his website www.CompleteChiropracticHealthcare.com

Reference:

1 “What Are The Key Statistics For Prostate Cancer?” posted on the American Cancer Society Website www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_are_the_key_statistics_for_prostate_cancer_36.asp?sitearea=

2 “Can Prostate Cancer Be Found Early?” posted on the American Cancer Society Website www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3X_Can_prostate_cancer_be_found_early_36.asp?rnav=cri

3 Asai, A., M. Terasaki, and A. Nagao, An epoxide-furanoid rearrangement of spinach neoxanthin occurs in the gastrointestinal tract of mice and in vitro: formation and cytostatic activity of neochrome stereoisomers. J Nutr, 2004. 134(9): p. 2237-43

4 Wang, L., et al., Targeting cell cycle machinery as a molecular mechanism of sulforaphane in prostate cancer prevention. Int J Oncol, 2004. 24(1): p. 187-92

5 Schoonen, W. M., C. A. Salinas, et al. (2005). "Alcohol consumption and risk of prostate cancer in middle-aged men." Int J Cancer 113(1): 133-40

6 Chung, L. Y., T. C. Cheung, et al. (2001). "Induction of apoptosis by green tea catechins in human prostate cancer DU145 cells." Life Sci 68(10): 1207-14

7 Hedelin M. Dietary Phytoestrogen, Serum Enterolactone and Risk of Prostate Cancer: The Cancer Prostate Sweden Study. Cancer Causes and Control 2006; 17(2): 169-180

8 Limpens J. Combined Lycopene and Vitamin E Treatment Suppresses the Growth of PC-346C Human Prostate Cancer Cells in Nude Mice J. Nutr. 2006 136: 1287-1293

9 Mohanty NK. Lycopene as a chemopreventive agent in the treatment of high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia. Urologic Oncology 2006; 23(6): 383-385

10 Walker M, Aronson KJ, King W, et al. Dietary patterns and risk of prostate cancer in Ontario, Canada. International Journal of Cancer, Sep. 10, 2005;116:592-598

11 Diwadkar-Navsariwala V. PN Selenoprotein deficiency accelerates prostate carcinogenesis in a transgenic model AS 2006 103: 8179-8184

12 Peters U. High Serum Selenium and Reduced Risk of Advanced Colorectal Adenoma in a Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Program. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(2):315–20

13 Clark LC, Combs GF, Turnbull BW, et al. Effects of selenium supplementation for cancer prevention in patients with carcinoma of the skin. JAMA 1996;276:1957–63. Published erratum appears in JAMA 1997;277:1520.
14 Yoshizawa K, Willett WC, Morris SJ, et al. Study of prediagnostic selenium levels in toenails and the risk of advanced prostate cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 1998;90:1219–24.

15 Clark, L. C. Effects of selenium supplementation for cancer prevention in patients with carcinoma of the skin. A randomized controlled trial. Nutritional Prevention of Cancer Study Group J. Am. Med. Assoc 1996; 276, 1957–1963

16 Shibata, M. A., Ward, J. M., Devor, D. E., Liu, M. L. & Green, J. E. (1996) Cancer Res 56, 4894–4903

Breathing Exercises Improve Asthma Symptoms

In the United States, about 20 million people have been diagnosed with asthma; nearly 9 million of them are children. The most common treatment for Asthma has been the use of corticosteriod inhalers.

A new study found that breathing techniques can cut the use of asthma reliever inhalers by more than 80% and halve the dose of preventer inhaler required in mild asthma, research finds.

The new study, published in the journal Thorax, compared the impact of two breathing techniques on symptoms, lung function, use of medication and quality of life among 57 adults with mild asthma.

One technique focused on shallow, nasal breathing with slow exhalations, and the second technique used general upper body exercises, accompanied by relaxation.

The participants, who used a preventer inhaler and required reliever inhaler at least four times a week, were randomly assigned to one or other breathing technique.

Participants practiced their breathing exercises twice a day for around 25 minutes over a period of 30 weeks. They were also encouraged to use a shorter version of their exercises in place of reliever inhaler, and to use reliever if the exercises did not work.

Researcher Professor Christine Jenkins, of the the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, found that the use of reliever medication fell by 86% in both exercise groups, a process which began within weeks of starting the exercises, and was maintained over eight months. She writes: "Breathing techniques may be useful in the management of patients with mild asthma symptoms who use a reliever frequently."

By the end of the study, the participants dropped from using around three puffs of their reliever inhaler each day to approximately one puff every third day. Preventer dose requirements were also cut in half.

In addition to breathing exercises, other things that you can do to reduce asthma symptoms are:

� Use air filters to help clean air in your home.
� Cover mattresses and pillows with dust covers and use hypoallergenic bed clothing to reduce exposure to dust mites.
� Choose a more vegetarian-type diet. Animal proteins found in meat include arachidonic acid�a precursor for inflammation.
� Include foods with omega-3 fatty acids in the diet�such as fish or fish oil.
� Supplement with vitamin C, which helps reduce allergic reactions and wheezing symptoms.
� To reduce stress in your children, spend quality time with them and limit their exposure to TV programs that include violence.
� Get regular chiropractic care.

Chiropractic patients experience a better quality of life

Every day people take medication and undergo medical procedures. But how often does the medical community monitor the long-term outcome of these actions—which have a direct effect on the patients’ quality of life? Not often, if ever.

The chiropractic community has taken a different approach. Studies spanning decades of follow-up research are showing that people who receive regular chiropractic adjustments experience an improvement in the quality of their life.

A New Zealand study of 89 patients showed improvement in Physical State, Mental/Emotional State and Combined Wellness. It also suggested that health and wellness might add up with time under chiropractic care.

A survey of 2818 patients in the U.S., Canada, Australia and Puerto Rico reported that chiropractic adjustments delivered an improved quality of life within 1-3 months after beginning care.

An Italian study of 17,142 patients under chiropractic care for at least two years indicated that having everyone under chiropractic care could reduce the number of hospitalized patients by 87.6 percent and daily absences from work could be reduced by 55-75 percent.

Regardless of age, chiropractic adjustments are safe and healthy for everyone. Make sure you are experiencing a better quality of life; schedule your next chiropractic adjustments today.

Multivitamin Use Before Pregnancy Reduces Risk of Preterm Births

Preterm birth is associated with many health risks as well as a lower rate of infant survival during the first year of life. Women who take a multivitamin before conception have only half the risk of preterm delivery than those who wait until after becoming pregnant to start taking nutritional supplements.

A study published in the November 2004 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology showed that the use of multivitamin supplements by women prior to becoming pregnant was associated with fewer preterm deliveries. Preterm birth is defined as birth at less than 37 weeks of gestation and is associated with a lower rate of infant survival during the first year of life.

Researchers utilized data from the Pregnancy, Infection and Nutrition Study which recruited 2,010 women during their 24th to 29th week of pregnancy. They compared the incidence of preterm delivery among women who took multivitamins prior to conception, before conception and during pregnancy, during pregnancy only, or not at all.

Women who took a multivitamin supplement before conception had half the risk of early and late preterm delivery than those who took no vitamins. Women used multivitamins during pregnancy only had approximately the same amount of preterm births than women who took none at all.

This study, as well as many previous studies, reinforces the concern that waiting until pregnancy is diagnosed may be too late for nutritional intervention to benefit many pregnancy outcomes.

Am J Epidemiol. 2004 Nov 1;160(9):886-92.

Chiropractic Fixes Carpal Tunnel Pain

For millions of Americans, Carpal Tunnel pain can bring everyday actions to a screeching halt. But before you choose to treat this painful wrist and finger condition with drugs or an expensive surgery, try to heal your problem naturally with chiropractic adjustments.

Here’s how it works. Carpal Tunnel actually refers to a location in the wrist where several hand bones meet, forming the shape of a tunnel. A major nerve controlling finger movement runs from the tip of the fingers, through this tunnel, up the arm and on to the spinal chord. If one or more of the bones forming this tunnel should become misaligned, inflammation occurs, triggering nerve pressure and pain in the wrist area.

To correct this condition, your chiropractic doctor will perform specific spinal adjustments that will help reduce nerve irritation. This will open passageways for brain signals to reach their intended destinations, thereby allowing your body to naturally heal itself.

Before you give into medication and/or surgery, try chiropractic adjustments—the natural, non-invasive way to overcome the pain of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.